Umthun Trucking Closes Doors

Umthun Trucking, Eagle Grove, Iowa, ceased operations Friday.

Decker Truck Line of Fort Dodge, Iowa, assumed most of Umthun's contracts. Most of Umthun's employees and owner-operators - possibly as many as 300 people - will go to work for Decker, according to published reports.
Umthun was founded in 1946 and had four locations in Iowa, as well as terminals in Texas, Indiana, Alabama and Ohio. It operated both van and flatbed trailers using owner-operators, and van, flatbed and tank divisions using company drivers. Umthun consistently had finalists in the Truckload Carriers Assn.'s Independent Contractor of the Year and Company Equipment Driver of the Year competitions.
The company was purchased in 1998 by Alan Coyne and Tony Russell, two of the company's executive officers. Umthun was founded by Steve Umthun in 1946 and had been owned by brothers Virgil and Joe Umthun until the sale.